Comfort Shoe

ABSTRACT

A method of making a shoe includes the steps of providing a midsole having a plurality of downward extending flexible projections that elastically flex when exposed to the weight of a person walking in the shoe; and determining the number of associated projections based on the anticipated weight and/or foot, width and/or foot length of the wearer of the shoe. Each one of the downwardly expending projections is configured as a small bowl-shaped element, open at the top, with a cylindrical plug extending down from the bottom of the bowl into the outsole recess that is associated with the projections. The method may include the step of selecting a dimension of the cross-sectional surface area of the cylindrical plugs of the projections, wherein said area is increased for a larger shoe size and decreased for a smaller shoe size.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a nonprovisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/726,839 filed Nov. 15, 2012, and this application claims the benefit of the fling date thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe, and in particular, to a shock absorbing shoe that can help to protect the feet, legs and back of the wearer while at the same time providing additional balance to the wearer.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,229, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a shoe that has cushioning projections under the forefoot and in the lee area. This shoe also includes a ventilation system.

Like many prior art shoes, the shoe shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,229 is an attempt at providing an improved walking and standing platform for a wearer. However, Applicant has studied this shoe and has determined that it can be improved significantly. Applicant's improved shoe is detailed below, and is shown in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe that is a first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shoe, and in particular, to a shock absorbing shoe that can help to protect the fee, legs and back of the wearer, while at the same time providing additional balance to the wearer while standing or walking. The invention is applicable to shoes of varying constructions. As representative of the invention, the drawings illustrate a shoe 10 that is one embodiment of the invention.

The sole of the shoe 10 includes an outsole 12, a midsole 14, and an insole 16. These three parts of the shoe 10 are joined together in a known manner to form the sole of the shoe that is then jointed to the upper (not illustrated).

The bottom of the midsole 14 is formed with multiple front projections 20 in the forefoot area 22. Each projection 20 is configured as a small bowl-shaped element 24, open at the top, with a cylindrical plug 26 extending down from the bottom of the bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, there are fifteen front projections 20.

The bottom of the midsole 14 is formed with one or more rear projections 30 in the heel area 32. Each projection 30 is configured as a small bowl-shaped element 34, open at the top, with a cylindrical plug 36 extending down from the bottom of the bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two rear projections.

The upper surface 35 of the outsole 12 is formed with a number of openings or recesses 38 in the forefoot area 40 of the outsole 12. Each recess 38 is associated with (underlies) a respective one of the front midsole projections 20. In one embodiment, each plug 26 on a front projection 20 extends freely into its associated opening 38 without adhering. In another embodiment, each plug 20 is adhered in its associated opening 38, for example, with adhesive.

The upper surface 35 of the outsole 12 is formed with a number of openings or recesses 44 in the heel area 46 of the outsole 12. Each recess 44 is associated with (underlies) a respective one of the heel midsole projections 30. In one embodiment, each plug 34 on a rear projection 30 extends freely into its associated opening 44 without adhering. In another embodiment, each plug 34 is adhered in its associated opening 44, for example, with adhesive.

The midsole 14 is made from a soft, elastic material. The projections 20 and 30 are configured to absorb shock during walking. Thus, when the rear portion of the foot presses down on the midsole 14 during walking, the rear projections 30 are compressed, absorbing the impact. The sides of the bowl portions 34 of the rear projections 30 deform down and out, allowing the projections to compress vertically, to provide for the desired cushioning effect.

Thereafter during the stride, the front or forefoot portion of the foot presses down on the midsole 14. The front projections 20 are compressed, absorbing the impact. The sides of the bowl portions 24 of the front projections 20 deform down and out, allowing the front projections to compress vertically, to provide for the desired cushioning effect.

When the shoe 10 is thereafter lifted up from the ground, the elastic nature of the projections 20 and 30 returns them to their original shape and configuration.

The shoe 10 of the present invention differs from the shoe of the aforementioned U.S. patent in significant ways. The shoe 10 still includes a large number of projections 20 under the forefoot of the sole. However, there are only fifteen front projections 20 provided in the forefoot area, in the illustrated embodiment. This number of projections 20 is significantly less than in the shoes that are shown and described in the aforementioned U.S. patent.

The shoe 10 includes a number of projections 30 under the heel area. However, there are only two rear projections 30 provided in the heel area. This number of projections 30 is significantly less than in the shoes that are shown and described in the aforementioned U.S. patent. The two heel rear projections 30 are centered laterally. Thus, there are a total of only 34 projections per pair of shoes 10.

Applicant has found, that because of these specific aspects of the construction of the inventive shoes, the shoes provide significantly increased weight distribution and comfort for the wearer while both walking and standing. The shoes 10 also provide significantly increased balance for the wearer.

This determination was made in side-by-side comparisons with shoes as shown and described in the aforementioned patent. Significant experimentation provided the knowledge that this reduced number of projections 20 and 30 contributes greatly to balance especially, and also to increased comfort.

The shoe 10 of the present invention does not have ventilation through boles in the insole 16, which would allow air to flow through the sole and out through the heel area. Applicant has found that this ventilation effect is not necessary to provide the comfort and balance that are desired.

The invention is applicable to all types of shoes including men's shoes, women's shoes, and children's shoes. As the size of the shoe 10 varies overall, the size, number, and spacing of the projections 20 and 30 can vary, while other features can remain the same. These parameters can be selected in various manners in accordance with the present invention, as described below.

The construction of the shoe 10 is tailored to fit several different criteria: weight of the user, width of the foot, and length of the foot. A heavier person will require more shock absorption and balancing capability from the shoe 10. Therefore, additional projections 20 and/or 30 are added to compensate. A wider foot requires a wider shoe 10, and the number and spacing of the projections 20 and/or 30 are varied proportionately. A longer foot requires a longer shoe 10, and the number and spacing of the projections 10 and/or 30 are, again, varied proportionately.

In another method, the size and spacing and number of projections can be based, initially, on the person's shoe size. One method includes the following steps. Start with a standard number of projections, for example, fifteen. Increase the cross-sectional area of the plugs 26 or 36 of each projection, by a small percentage for a larger size shoe. For example, the cross-sectional areas of the plugs could be increased by from about five percent to about eight percent when going to a larger shoe size.

In another example, this increase in the cross-sectional area of the plugs occurs in groups of three shoe sizes; thus, the cross-sectional area of the plugs would be the same across shoe sixes 6/7/8 for economy, and would increase for shoe sizes 9/10/11.

A different number of projections can be provided, alternatively. For example, a shoe that is a larger size lands much differently during the user's stride. A method of selecting the number of projections can include the steps of starting with a predetermined number of projections of a predetermined size and spacing; and adjusting the number of projections to fit the available sole space. For example, on a smaller shoe, the predetermined number of projections might have to be reduced; on a larger shoe, the number of projections could be increased to fill available space.

The improved balance that is provided by the shoes of the present invention has been shown on an electronic balance pad. The electronic balance pad measures a persons' movement and distance of bodyweight distribution. The persons stands on the pad in socks for an initial measurement. After the user has worn the inventive shoe for a period of time, the user can retake the measurement text and clearly note the difference, i.e., improved balance. 

1. A method of making a shoe, comprising the steps of: providing a midsole having a plurality of downward extending flexible projections that elastically flex when exposed to the weight of a person walking in the shoe; providing an outsole having a plurality of upward opening recesses for receiving the lower ends of the projections; and said steps of providing a midsole and providing an outsole including determining the number of associated projections and openings based on the anticipated weight and/or foot width and/or foot length of the wearer of the shoe.
 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each one of the downwardly expending projections is configured as a small bowl-shaped element, open at the top, with a cylindrical plug extending down from the bottom of the bowl into the outsole recess that is associated with the projections.
 3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of selecting a dimension of the cross-sectional surface area of the cylindrical plugs of the projections, wherein said area is increased for a larger shoe size and decreased for a smaller shoe size.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said area is maintained constant over a group of two to three shoe sizes and is increased for a group of the next two or three larger shoe sizes.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the shoe has fifteen projections on the forefoot area and the cross-sectional area of the plugs is increased by an amount in the range of from about five percent to about eight percent when going from a smaller shoe size to a larger shoe size.
 6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the midsole includes a first group of projections and recesses in the forefoot area and a second group of projections and recesses in the heel area. 